Neil Gaiman says we may see the premiere of HBO series American Gods sometime this year

Neil Gaiman is a name instantly recognizable to fans of comic books and fantasy literature. His work on Sandman and other Vertigo Comics titles along with his novels CORALINE, AMERICAN GODS, THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, NEVERWHERE, GOOD OMENS, and STARDUST. To date, CORALINE and STARDUST have been made into feature films while it was announced HBO would air a six season series based on the novel. Gaiman himself is penning the script for the pilot which is being produced by Tom Hanks' Playtone banner.

The central premise of the novel is that gods and mythological creatures exist because people believe in them (similar to Tulpa). Immigrants to the United States brought with them dwarves, elves, leprechauns, and other spirits and gods. However, the power of these mythological beings has diminished as people's beliefs wane. New gods have arisen, reflecting America's obsessions with media, celebrity, technology, and drugs, among others.

While this news was announced originally back in 2011, very little has been known about the status of the series aside from Gaiman's involvement and a proposed 2013 or 2014 premiere. At the recent Cambridge International Student Film Festival, Gaiman shared some news about where AMERICAN GODS stands. According to HBO Watch

The premiere episode of American Gods will be a lot like the opening chapters of the book, but will also contain new elements and details. The first two seasons of the show will consist of the book. By then Gaiman hopes to have the American Gods sequel novel written and headed for release. American Gods will debut this year if Gaiman can get the pilot script done in time to HBO’s satisfaction.

None of this comes officially from the cable network, so it could just be Gaiman's perspective on the project. Usually we would be hearing news about production and casting at this point if a 2013 date was realistic. That is not to say it is impossible, just unlikely. If AMERICAN GODS is going to premiere, it would have to be very late in the year or move to 2014. With the success of GAME OF THRONES, I would have no doubt that HBO is looking at other fantasy novels ripe for adaptation.

Gaiman recently has written for DOCTOR WHO, so his skills are already broken in for television writing. Hopefully this news pans out and we get another cable series to talk about.

I've got a good feeling about this happening. With the absurd amount of success GoT has been getting in an endless stream of more and more viewers, ALL potential serial novel adaptations aught to be in HBO's crosshairs at this point. Discworld is kind of tied up in the hands of the BBC though, and The Dark Tower is trapped in a horrifying Hollywood limbo, so that leaves Gaiman as the next logical place to look for material.

I've got a good feeling about this happening. With the absurd amount of success GoT has been getting in an endless stream of more and more viewers, ALL potential serial novel adaptations aught to be in HBO's crosshairs at this point. Discworld is kind of tied up in the hands of the BBC though, and The Dark Tower is trapped in a horrifying Hollywood limbo, so that leaves Gaiman as the next logical place to look for material.